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[Lovely Lettie]

Welcome to our awesome community!

Nice to meet you

 

[N F C]

You can do this! If you run into questions or problems, just find the appropriate forum and ask!

 

[DobieLover]

Hello and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.
Make sure you visit the Coop and Run forum for proper sizing and design of your coop before you begin. It will save you and your birds a lot of headaches in the future!

 

[Grammy60]

Hello and welcome to BYC We are happy you have joined us

 

[swampfox440]

Welcome to BYC!

 

[Blue Raptor]

I’m new to chickens but I’m about to build me a coop and I’ll be about ready!!! I’m nervous! My husband says I’m getting in over my head!!!

Welcome to BYC!!

 

[sourland]

Welcome to BYC, and good luck in establishing your flock.

 

[rjohns39]

Hi and welcome to BYC We're so happy you've decided to join us

 

[Rockymtn65]

I’m new to chickens but I’m about to build me a coop and I’ll be about ready!!! I’m nervous! My husband says I’m getting in over my head!!!

No, just jump on in! I would advise that whatever size coop you THINK you need, go bigger. Chicken math WILL get you

 

[Ometra]

Glad to meet you, and welcome to BYC. I totally felt like I was floundering, but you know, it turned out OK, and it usually does. There is a learning curve, and doing some reading, asking some questions will help you over it!

Here are my favorite beginning articles. All articles are short, and have illustrations, and reviews, which are often worth looking at for the comments.

1. Intro to chicken keeping

2. Common mistakes & how to fix them

3. Ventilation (important to chicken health), with helpful links to coop designs organized by climate (because what is just right for my New England hens won't work for my brother's Arizona chickens)

4. Predator protection for new & existing coops

5. Dealing with a muddy coop and run

6. (are you where winter is starting??) Winter chicken care

To look for articles on your own:

A. Use the SEARCH button, but use the Advanced Search choice, and select ARTICLES at the top of the box. Just enter your keyword(s) and scroll through your results!

B. I find it helpful to notice the rating and reviews. All articles are by BYC members, and all the reviews/ratings are as well. The ratings help a newbie like me sort the most useful and reliable articles.

C. You can bookmark the articles or posts you think you want to refer to again using that bookmark icon at the top of articles or posts. You can find them again by clicking on your own avatar and looking at the list of bookmarks you have built up!

Notes about where to put a coop.

1. As far as you can, put a coop and run on high ground, that drains well, so you won't have so much muddy coop problems. Chickens need to be dry, dry, dry.

2. As far as you can, put a coop with the ventilation lined up with your prevailing breezes, and away from the direction of your storms. If you are not sure of these (who is these days?), check with your local National Weather Service website.

3. As far as you can, arrange for some sort of shade over your coop and run. Preferably deciduous so the girls will enjoy winter sun, but summer shade.

Oh wow! Thank you!